Nailing machine



K. I. SIGNELL'.

NAILING MACHINE. QPPHCATIQN FILED FEB. 6. 19!!!- Patented Mar. v14, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1- IIVVENTOR:

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K- I. SIG NELL. NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 5.1918.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

7 SHEETS,SHEET 3.

W ATTORNEY K. I. SIGNELL.

NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 6 1918.

WITNESS:

Patented Mai. 14, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Pi g. 10..

INVENTOR. L aAQ kg w,

ATTORNEY.

K. SIGNELL.

- NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1918.

1,409,41 9, Patnted Mar. 14, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

41 4s Ti 29 WITNESS:-

K. I. SIGNELL.

NAILING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB-6.1918.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6- Ti g. 15.

INVENTOR. 78mg U SXA;

fifi ozm K. SIGNELL.

NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED H58; 6. 1918.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR. Md 0. 13;

WI Tit/E88:

14 TTORNEY- 1am ems-a KARL I. SIGNELL, orw'nsr NEW YORK, new-seesaw.

NAILING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent-.961 ED113 14, 1922, i

Application filed February 6, 1918. Serial. No. 215,684. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARLI. SIeNn-LL, a

citizen'of the. United States. of America, and a resident of West New York; in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nailing Machines, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates more particularly to nailing machines which are portable, adapted to be carried in the hand and applied to the workwherever it may .be, the machine disclosed being intended more espe-' cially to nail parquet floors.

The objects of this invention aretoprovide a nailing machine having a spring actuated hammer or plunger and handle means adapted to be reciprocated in alinement with said hammer or plunger to operate the same; to enable the hammer to be retracted by movement of the reciprocating means in one direction and the spring compressed and tripped by movement in the other direct1on;'to more particularly enable the spring to be compressed by movement in the same direction as the hammer moves instriking its blow; to thus utlhze the pressure exerted in com )ressino' the s rin to hold the machine agalnst its work; to thus'enable the machine to be easily and positively positioned and the 'nailsklriven accurately; to drivea plurality of vnailsat one'operation of the machine and at the same time avoid excessive jar due to simultaneousimpact' of the hammers; to this end-to employ a plurality of hammers and trip themin succession; to enclosethe hammers while descending; to prevent any nail ofsuch a plurality being displaced by the impact of'a blow driving a previous nail; to prevent the operator from making .a retractive stroke during descent of the hammers and until .the blows are struck; to permitthe spring tension'to be readily adjusted so as to drive the nails with the desired force; to provide nail feeding mechanisms which will pass beneath the hammers a they are raised and drop a nail in position under each hammer; to hold the nail chute or magazine out of registration' with the nail receiving hole in returning said magazine to 1n1t1al position; to.- prov1de improved means for feeding nails to \the magazine in proper position. from a receptacle containing a supply of them; to provide ac in the i shoe;

v ingthe cess to the ur iper end of the magaz'ine for remov ng detective or; deformed nails; to

the same parts throughout the several views,

Figures ;1 and 2 are perspective views-of a nailing machine embodyingmyinvention; looking at the same from oppositesides;

Figure 3 is an elevationshowing-the bar-- rel raised; Figure 4 1s a simllar elevation showing.

the barrel forced substantially downand the :hammers retained in raised position;

'Figureso and dare vertical sectional views showing the parts in the jPOSitiODS shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively;

Figure Tie a centralsectiona'l view taken between the barrels;

Figure 8 is a cross-section on line 8S of Fig. 7;

Figure 9i s'a detail perspective of the latch i.

for lioldinglthe hammer'raised whilethe spring ls'compressed;

Figure 1.0 .is. a' detail perspective of .the

means for, adjustably limiting displacement of one end of the spring; I r g V Figure. 11 is a detail perspective of the lower end 'of the barrel; I I

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the. work enga ging ing the'Ife'eding-imeans held out of registration iflOlIl the nail-receiving hole or chamber shoe and means for feeding the nails theretogm i Figure 13 is a cross-section of said shoe Figu-re 15 isasectional view on line 15-15' V of Fig. 3

Figure 16 is a similar' sectional view on Y line 16-16 of lii gal 100.

Figure 17 is a sectional view on lin e 17-17 of Fig.15;

' Figure 18 isa similar sectionalview showor deformed, nails are removed;

Figure 19is aperspective view OttheQporh tionot the magazine normally closed by said gate, but with the gate omitted;

gate opened through which .c'letec'tivc Figure 20 is a detail perspective view of said gate;

Figure 21 1s a detail perspective view of an agitator for the nails, and

Figure 22 is a detail perspective view of a tool for holding the springs compressed while adjusting the key.

In general, my improved nailing machine comprises one or more hammers each adapted to be reciprocated upon a guiding rod and within a barrel which theoperator slides toward and away from the work. In nailing parquet flooring this sliding is up and down, and therefore I shall use those terms in describing the invention, it being understood that they in no way restrict the use of the macl'iine in other positions. A latch is provided to hold the hammer retracted, when brought to that position, while the operator slides the barrel downagain and thereby compresses a spring within the barrel. Said spring when thus compressed tends to slide the hammer down to strike its blow, the latch being tripped automatically as the barrel reaches the lower part of its stroke and releasing the hammer to thus strike its blow. Nail feeding means are reciprocated transverse to the direct-ion of movement of hammer, as the barrel is raised and lowered, positioning a nail beneath each hammer between strokes.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the refer the 'ence numeral 1 indicates the barrel, which,

for a machine driving two nails, comprises a pair of tubes 2, 2 having handles 3, 3 adjacent their upper ends means of which the operator may slide the barrel up and down. Slidably mounted within said tubes 2, 2'are hammers 4e, 4 which are also tubular and are slidably mounted upon rods 5, 5 pro- 1 jecting upward from and fixed with respect to a work engaging shoe 6. It is to be understood that said rods 5, 5 are parallel to each other, and of the same length, and that the hammers slide preferably independent of each other upon said rods for purposes here.

inafter described. The shoe 6 has one or more nail receiving holes or chambers 7 for each hammeigsee Figures 12, 13 and 14, said chambers passing through the shoe from top to bottom in a direction parallel to the hammers. Drivers 8, 8 are provided on the hammers, see Figures 3, 5 and 6, projecting from the bottoms thereof so as to enter the chambers 7 in the shoe and drive nails dropped therein by the feeding mechanism. It may here be noted that the hammers 4, 4 are prevented from rotating upon the rods 5, 5 as a result of which the drivers will always be alined with respect to said chambers 7 so as r to enterther'ein each time the hammers are lowered. i I V .Vithiu the tubes 2, 2 upon the hammers 4-, 4: are helical springs 9, 9 bearing at their lower ends against collars 10, 10 fixed upon the lower part of thehammers above the drivers, see Figures 5 and 6. The upper ends of the springs bear against collars 11, 11 slidable upon the hammers. A key 12, see Figures 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10, is provided adapted to be inserted in any one of a plurality of apertures 13 between the tubes 2, 2 oi the barrel, said key projecting partly within each of the tubes so as to overlie the said upper slidable collars 11, 11, and being notched at its under side, as at 14:, so as to permit the collars to'seatupward therein to hold the key from withdrawaluntil the col lars are slid down out of the'notches. With the hammers held in raised position downward movement of the barrel toward the collars thus compressing the springs. The desired tension may be obtained by adjusting the key, inserting it in a hole closerto work slides the collars 11, 11 toward the fixed I i to but ofi'set axially from the axes of the hammers. The tubes 2, 2 are longitudinally cut away or slotted, as at 16, in which the endsof the latches projecting from the hammore may ride, thuspermitting relativelons gitudinal movement of the hammersfand barrel. Theseslots 16 are so arranged that the latches will engage sidewalls thereof and prevent rotation otthe hammers; The

rods 5, 5 preferably have-notches 17 in which the latches may rest, see Figures 5 and 6. j The latches-also have notches 18, see Figures 5, 6 and 9, through which the rods may pass, so arranged that for one position of the latchthe hammermay slide downward upon the rod. but for other positions of the latch it will hold -the"ha'mmer raised. A leaf spring 19, see Figures 2and 9, is held by a set screw 20 in a slot 21 in one end of-each latch for normally rotatingthe latch so its notch '18 will turn out of registration with the rod and automatically lock the hammer in raised position when raised thereto.

In order to release the hammer after the spring 9 is compressed, I provide an arm 22 on the end of the latch opposite from the leaf spring 19, adapted, when pressed down, to rotate'the latch so its notch 18 will turn into registration with the rod. Swinging 22, 22 of both latches. The trip shown comprises a stem 24 slidably mounted in a sleeve ward movement by a screw 27 therein projecting into the slotted portion 16 of the barrel and adapted to engage the lower end of said slot, see Figures 7 and 8. Upon the upper end of the stem is a cross-head 28 the opposite ends of which overlie the arms 22, 22, for swinging them as the barrel is lowered. Preferably'the arms 22, 22 are so related with respect to the trip that one hammer is released in'advance of the other in order to avoid excessive jar due to simultaneous impact of both hammers.

In order to prevent the impact of the ham- Iner first descending from jarring the nail or nails from the chambers beneath the subsequently descending hammers, means are provided to frictionally engage such nail or nails. For a machine having two hammers,

such as shown, it is necessary 'to'have only one such friction means, and that for the nail to be driven by'the hammer which operates last. The means as shown in Figures 13 and 141-, comprises a. stud 29 in the work engaging shoe transverse to the nail chamber,w1th one end adapted to enter said cham her and its other end adapted to pro-- trude from said shoe. A. spring 30 engages aicollar 31 on said stud normally projecting the end from the ,shoe and retracting the other end from the nail chamberso the nail will fall freely therein. The barrel, see Figure 11 especially, has a lip 32 upon its lower end adapted to pass downward past the stud 29, a leaf spring 33 being carried by saidlip to engage and slide said stud inward so its other end will engage a nail inthe nail chamber. r

Preferably means are provided for holding the barrel toward. the work during the interval from tripping the first hammer to striking of the blowby the second hammer.

One endof thework-engaging shoe 6 shown with a plurality of ratchet teeth 31 ex tending thereacross having downwardly facing shoulders. Apawl 35 pivoted to the lower part of the barrel has its lower end shaped to engage and underlie said teeth thereby preventing the barrel from being lifted until said pawl is disengaged; As shown, the ratchet teeth andpawl are adjacent the hammer which descends last, and means are provided for releasing the pawl from the 'ratchets automatically by descent of said last descending ha-mnier. To this end. an arm 36 is provided upon the pawl projecting into a slot 37 in the side; of the barrel. As the hammer descends it engages said arm. forcing it'outward and thus releases the pawl. A leaf spring 38 is arranged to normally swing the pawl toward the ratchet teeth. a

Nails are fed, one to each nail chamber in the work-engaging shoe, between strokes of the barrel by a nail magazine operated by the barrel. Thisf'eeding'means preterably provides a chute 39 down which the nails may slide end to end, said chutepret erably having longitudinal grooves in its interior channel to accomodate irregulari ties, burrs or the likeyin the nails. On the lower end of said chute 39is abase 4:0 adapted totravel back and forth'past the two rods 5, 5. The chute is removable fromsaid base so another' maybe. substituted when desired, as for different sized nails. The base has an extension 41 passing down'' wardly at the side of the work-engaging a slideway' -14 at the side of the work-en- I gaging shoe, in which the rider is heldagalnst lateral displacement, said slot furthermore extending in the direction of movement of the base 40; A spring'tfi is carried upon the pin 42 between a head 46 on the outer end thereof and the extension, thus" tending to hold the base 40 normally toward the rods 5, 5 so the chute will pass across the upper ends of the nail chambers'in registration therewith.

As the chute thus registers witha nail chamber, a nail drops from the chute into said chamber, the chute and base being longitudinally slotted; adjacent their lower ends, as at 4:7,1to permit the nail to drop vertically into the chamberfas' the chute 7 moves on, see Figure 12. Aleaf spring 4e8- held at one end by a screw 4C9 has its other end normally projecting acrosssaid slot to hold the nails in the chute until they start to fall into thenail chambers. at which time said spring bows out as the chute moves on, snapping back as it falls down.- p

It is preferable to pass the nail chute across in "onedirection so ,the chute" will register with the nail chambers in passing, but to retract the nail chute in the other direction so it will not register with the nail chambers, thus supplying only one nail 'to each nail-chamber for each cycl'e'ot operations. In the lower'end of the base 40' is a guide pin 50, see Figures 13 and 14, normally projected by'a spring 5l'above it, and this pin slides at its lower end upon the top of the work-engaging shoe. At the outer part of the forward stroke of the base of the to engage the nextnail magazine the shoe is cutto provide a verti cal shoulder '52, (Figures 1 and 12), past which said ping50 will be projected. 'This shoulder slopes-toward the side of the shoe along whiclrthe extension 41 travels as a wardly therefrom in engagement with the &

result of which the base will be slid outwardly by the pin 50 toward said side while being retracted. The bottom of the cut away portion to form said shoulder 52 slopes upwardly toward the other end of the shoe so that as the magazine is returned to initial position the pin 50 is forced back up into the base and finally the spring 4C5 bearing against the extension a1 forces said extension and base inward again toward the shoe so upon the next forward stroke the nail chute will again register with the nail chambers.

The 7 portion 53 of the magazine from which the chute depends, see Figures 1 to 6 and to 20, is preferably narrow with its upper part slotted to receive the nails, the lower portions of the nails hanging by. their heads in said slot. The nails slide one by one from the slot into the chute as needed. From the lower part of this narrow slotted portion 52 which is toward the barrel depends a bar 1 54 by which said portion is supported and operated from the barrel. As shown, said bar slopes from the said slotted portion 53 of the magazine downwardly toward the barrel, terminating in the base above described. A bracket 55 fast with respect to the barrel near its bottom end projects out sloping side of the bar 54 so that as said barrel is moved downward the brackets will wedgingly operate against the bar 54 to retract the magazine. A leaf spring 56 is car ried by the portion 53 of the magazine to actuate it upon its forward stroke, the lower end of the spring being attached to an extension 57 carried by the work-engaging shoe, which extension also carries a Swiveled stirrup 58 for the operators'foot.-

Preferably said portion 53 of the magazine comprises opposite separated plates 59 held apart at one edge of said portion 53 by the bar 5% and, at their opposite edges by a strip 60 which terminates a distance from a bottom closure 61. Between the lower end of the strip 60 and the bottom closure 61 is a leaf spring 62 which may be sprung aside by the operator for permitting nails escap-' ing from the slot at the top of themagazine to be removed. The top of said portion 53 slopes downwardly toward the feed chute 39 and strips or jawsr63 are secured to the inner sides of the plates 59 to provide the slot 64 in which the nails will hang, the slot thus formed being too narrow for the heads of the nails to pass through. By virtue of the slope of the jaws, the nails will slide down as needed, said nails sliding ofi the end of the jaws into the upper end of the chute. The upper end of the nail chute is substantially a nail length below the end of the jaws, having on its side farthest from the nails an upwardly projecting lip 65 which the lower ends of the nails will engage as a stop so as to be above the channel in the fall down between the plates to the bottom 61. v

A gate 68 is provided at the ends of the jaws, adapted to be opened for removing deformed or defective nails which lodge there.

. his gate is hinged by pintles 69 thereon projecting into holes 70 in the plates 59 near the upper end of the chute. Said gate provides a portion 71 overlying the jaws to prevent the last several nails from jumping up and also provides side flanges 72 adjacent V the downwardly directed portions 67 of the jaws to cooperate therewith to guide the head of the nail while the point enters the nail chute. The upper end of the gate is adapted to swing between portions bending toward each other so as to frictionally hold the gate closed. For greater security the gate has a socket 74 adapted to engage a protuberance 75 projectinginwardly from one of the portions 73 of the side plates.

A container 76 for the supply of nails is provided with a flanged slot at its bottom in which is shdably mounted the narrow portion of the magazine, the container sliding up and down with the barrel. Thev upper slotted end of the magazine is thus partof the. time below the level of the nails 1 in the container and part of the time above such level, the nails being tumbled about by the, up and down movement of the container and some therebypositioned to fall into the slot 64 of the magazine. "It is found in practice that by, attaching the container to the barrel, as'by a link 77 the container will operate frequently enough to keep the slot 64 of the magazine amply sup plied with nails. Preferably the bottom walls of the container slope inwardly downward toward the magazine to feedthe nails positively toward the same. An agitator 78 is shown secured in the container to the side. wall thereof with arms 79, 79 pro ecting inwardly upon opposite sides of the narrow slotted portion 53 of the magazine. Pref crably one of these arms slopes upwardly and the other downwardly so as to positively engage any nails which lie crosswise on the top of the magazine as the container is lowered. and thereby cause such nails to drop oii.

It may be here added that in order to adjust the key 12 in any one of the holes 13, a tool 80 is provided having legs 81, 81

tool, which is of sufiicient length to following claims when construed in mosa c adapted to be inserted within the barrel through the slotl6 when the collar 11 is slid downwardly on the hammer as shown in Figure 6. Permitting the barrel to rise again will seat the upper end of the tool against a shoulder 82 on the hammer above said collar and the collar will engage the lower end in the tool. T he barrel and hammers may then be slid with respect to each other for a distance dependent, upon the g y permit all of the sockets 13 to'be raised above the movable collar 11' and permit the key 12 to be inserted in any one of them. When the key is thus adjusted, the tool is removed and the machine operated as before,

Obviously detail modifications audchanges may be made in manufacturing my im .ing saidbarrel, the springs for said hammeans for releasing said hammers succesproved nailing machine without departing; from the spiritand scope of the invention,

and I do not wish to be. understood as restricting myself except as required by the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is the 1.. In a nailingmachine, the combination.

with means for posit-ioninga plurality of nails to be driven and a plurality of spring.

actuated hammers for driving said nails, of 1 a barrel enclosingsaid hammers, and meansfor. actuating said hammers in succession and driving the nailssuccessively by reciprocating said barrel.

2. In a nailing machine, the combination withmeans. for positioning a plurality of nails to be driven and a plurality of spring actuated hammers for driving said nails, of

a barrel enclosing said hammers adapted to retract the same when moved in one direction and COIHPI'QSSthGlI' springs and to release them successively when moved in the other direction.

In a nailing machine, the combination iners, for compressing the springs of said.

hammers simultaneously and releasing said hammers successively.

l. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of nails to be driven of a barrel, and a plurality of spring actuated hammers within said barrel adapted to be retracted by .retraction of said barrel, the springs for said hammers being compressed simultaneously and released successively by sliding the barrel toward the work. I

5. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of nails to be driven, of a barrel, a plurality of spring actuated hammers within said barrel adapted to both be retracted by retracttrac-ted While sively. I

6. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of operating said latches and thereby releasing the hammers successively.

7. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of nails to be driven and a plurality of spring actuated hammers for driving said nails,.of

means adaptedtobe reciprocated insubstantially the same direction as said'hammers and retract the same when moved in one direction and compress theirjsprings [when] mored. in the .otherdirecti0n,'- latches for.

.retaining said hammers. retracted. during compressing of the springs,'la nd meaiis.for automatical y operating said latches so, asto release'the hammers successively. 1..

8.'I n a nailing machine, the combination with; aspring named hammer for driving a nail, oftmeans'for manually retracting the hanrmer without,compressingits spring, and subse releasingthe hammer.

9. In a nailing machine, the combination of a stationary guide portimi. adapted t.o be,;. held in place by the foot, :1 spring actuated quently compressing said spring and hammer. or plunger slidablefwith respect to p said guide. portion, and 'a hand operated barrel-arranged. and adapted to manually 'raise, the spring-actuated hammer when.

movedin onefdi'rection and to tension the.

in the other 'direction. e

10. Ina nailing machine, the combination with a springactuated hammer for driving. a nail, of means adapted to be reciprocated in substantially the same direction as the h mmer, and means for connecting said hammer and reciprocating means so as to spring and release the hammer when, moved retract the hammerby retracting said reciprocating means and, hold said hammer re 7 said reciprocating means is slid toward the work.

11. In a nailing machine, thecombination with a spring actuated hammer for driving a nail, of abarrel adapted tojbe recipro cated in substantially the same direction as the hammer, and means carried by said hammer adapted to be engaged by'said barrel to retract the hammer as the barrel is retracted and adapted to, retain thehaimner retracted while said barrel is slid toward the work. I r r a 12. In a nailing machine,the combination ith a springv actuated hammer for driving with a spring actuated'hammer for driving a nail, of a barrel adapted to be reciprocated in substantially the same direction as the hammer, means carried by said hammer adapted to be engaged by said barrel to retract the hammer as the barrel is retracted and adapted to retain the hammer retracted while said barrel is slid toward the work, and a trip for operating said means to release the hammer and permit it to strike its blow..

13. In a nailing machine, the combination with a spring actuated hammer for driving a nail, of a barrel having a longitudinal slot, said barrel adapted to be reciprocated in substantially the same direction as the hammer, and means carried by said hammer projecting into said slot preventing rela-, tive rotation of said hammer and barrel and permitting restricted relative longitudinal movement. a

14. In a nailing machine, the combination a nail, of a barrel having a longitudinal slot, said barrel adapted to be reciprocated in substantially the same direction as the hammer, and a latch projecting through said slot arranged and adapted to be engaged by i [one end of the slot for retracting the hammer as the barrel is retracted and engage the side' of the slot for preventing, relative rotation of said hammer and barrel, said latch adapted to automatically lock the hammer retracted so as to permit oompression of the'springforsaid hammer, and means for operating the latch to release the hammer. I r

15. In a nailing machine, the combination of a guide rod and means forsupporting it, a hammer slidable on said guide rod, and a transverse rotatable latch in said hammer having a notch adapted to slidably receive said rod as the hammer is slid, said latch adapted to be rotated when retracted bevond the end of the rod so as to engage said rod and thereby prevent the hammer from sliding thereon.

16. In a nailing machine, the combination of a guide rod and means for supporting it, a hammer slidable on said guide rod, a transverse rotatable latch in said hammer having a notch adapted to slidably receive said red as the hammer is slid, said latch adapted to be rotated when retracted beyond the end of the rod so as to engage said rod and thereby prevent the hammer 7 from sliding thereon, and an arm on one end of said latch for rotating said latch. 17. In a nailing machine, the combinatlon of a guide rod and means for supporting it,

a hammer slidable on said guide rod, a transverse rotatable. latch in said hammer having a notch adapted to slidably receive.

said rodas the hammer is slid, and a spring for normally rotating said latch so a portion of said latch may be rotated to lie in the path of the rod as occasion permits and thereby prevent the hammer from sliding on said'rod.

18. In a nailing machine, the combination of a guide rod and means for supporting it, hammer slidable on said guide rod, a transverse rotatable latch in said hammer having a notch adapted to slidably receive said rod as the hammer is slid, a spring for normally-rotating said latch so a portion'ot said latch may be rotated to lie in the path of the rod as occasion permits and thereby prevent the hammer from sliding on said rod, and means for rotating said latch to position the notch thereof in registration with the rod as desired to permit sliding of the hammer thereon.

19. In a nailing machine, the combination of a guide rod having a notch, means for supporting said rod,'a hammer slidable-on said rod, and a transverse rotatable latch adapted to be positioned in said notch of the rod for'preventing the hammer from sliding on the rod.

20. In a nailing machine, the combination of a guide rod havlng a notch, means forsupporting said rod, a hammer slidable on said rod, and a transverse latch adapted having a notch adapted to be brought into registration with the rod by rotating the latch and thereby permitting the hammer to slide upon the rod;

21. In a nailing machine, the combination of a slidable hammer, a spring for actuating said hammer, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction. as the hammer, and

means for adjustably connecting the spring and barrel for obtaining different spring pressures with the same movement of the barrel.

22. In a nailing machine, the combination of a slidable hammer, a fixed collar on said hammer, a slidable collar on said hammer, a spring included between said collars, a barrel, and me'ansfor connecting the slidable collar with the barrel for compressing the spring by movement of the barrel in one direction.

23. In a nailing machine, the combination with a shoe, oil: a hammer slidable toward 1 and away from said shoe, and a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as the hammer adapted to enclose the end of the hammer toward the shoe as the hammer makes its stroke toward the shoe.

24c. In a nailing machine, the combination Wlth a shoe, of a spring actuated hammer slidable toward and away from said shoe,

and a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as the hammer adapted bothto compress the hammer spring and enclose the end of the hammer toward the shoe as its stroke toward the 26. In a nailing machine, the combination with a shoe, of a hammer slidable toward and away from the shoe, a spring for actuating said hammer toward the shoe, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as the hammer arranged and adapted to compress the spring as said barrel is slid toward the shoe, and means for retaining said barrel slid toward the shoe during operation of the hammer toward the shoe under impulse of the spring.

27. In a nailing machine, the combination with a shoe, of a hammer slidable'toward andaway from the shoe, means for preventing retraction of said barrel while the hammer strikes its blow, and means for releasing the barrel so it-may be retracted alter the blow is struck.

28. In a nailing machine, the combination .with a shoe having ratchet teeth, of a hammer slidable toward and away from said shoe, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as the hammer, and a spring actuated pawl on said barrel adapted'to engage the ratchet teeth and prevent retraction of the barrel while said teeth are so engaged.

29. In a nailing machine, the combination with a shoe having ratchet teeth, of a hammer slidable toward and away from said shoe, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as the hammer, a spring actuated pawl on said barrel adapted to engage the ratchet teeth and prevent retraction of the barrel while said teeth are so engaged, and means on said pawl adapted to be engaged and swung by the hammer in striking its blow thereby disengaging said pawl automatically.

30. In a nailing machine, the combination with a shoe having ratchet teeth, of a plu rality of hammers slidable successively toward the shoe, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as the hammer, means for preventing retraction of the barrel during operation of the hammers toward the shoe, and means operated by the last operating hammer for releasing the barrel so it may be retracted.

31. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of nails to be driven and means for driving said nails successively, of means for preventing movement of oneof said nails 1n any direction in position to be driven while another nail is being driven.

32. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of nails to bedriven and means for driving said nails successively, of a member for holding a later driven nail against displacement by the concussion of driving an earlier driven nail, and means for rendering said member idle during positioning of the nail.

38. In a nailing machine, the combination with means for positioning a plurality of nails to be driven and means for driving said nails successively, of a member for holding a later driven nail against displacement by the concussion of driving an earlier driven nail, and means for automatically and alternately rendering said member idle dure.

ing positioning of the later driven nail and operative during driving of, the earlier ,driven nail. l V V 34. In a nailing machine, the combination with a shoe having a plurality of nail chambers, meansfor positioning nails in said nail chambers, and means for driving said nails successively, of a stud transverse to a chamber in which a nail is driven subsequent to another, said stud adapted to enter sald chamber for frictionally engag ng a nail therein, and-means operated by the hammer control means for sliding the stud to so engage the nail before impact of the hammer upon another nail of the series. I

35. In a nailing machine, the combination of a shoe, a hammerslidable toward and away from the shoe, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as said hammer for operating the same, means for en'- gaging a nail for holding it in position to be driven, and a spring on said barrel for oper atingsaid nail engaging means after the nail has been positioned.

36. In a nailing machine, the combination of a shoe having a nail chamber, a hammer slidable toward and away from the shoe, a barrel slidable in substantially the same direction as said hammer for operating the same, means for positioning a nail in said nail chamber, a stud transverse to said chamber adapted to enter the same for frictionally engaging a nail positioned therein,

means for normally holding said stud from projecting into said chamber, and means for entering the stud in the chamber as the barrel approaches its final position toward the shoe and before the hammer strikes its blow.

KARL I. SIGNELL. 

